STACk 
ANNEX 


5 

OS& 

027 


Sonnets  to   a   \Vire 

By  Ernest  McGaffey 


Saint  Louia 
\Villiam  Marion  Reedy 

1905 


Binding  by  BecktolJ  &  Company 
Saint  Louis 


Stack 
Annex 

5" 

05*> 


Copyrighted  1905 
By  ERNEST  McGAFFEY 


2056963 


For  Cecile 


Foreword 

r  1  'RUE  poetry  needs  not  to  be  explained.     It  goes 

•*•       direct  from  poet's  to  reader's  heart.     The  seventy 

sonnets  in  this  li#le  book  nave  this  quality  or 

clearness  and  directness.     They  are  easily  understanded 

or  the  people  and  yet  they  have  a  charm  as  well  even 

for   the  literary  gourmet.       They  are   always  simple. 

They  are  always  sweet,  and  yet  we  cannot  say  that 

they  are  too  much  sugar'd. 

Our  poet  surely  does  not  "tear  a  passion  to  tatters 
in  his  song,  and  while  we  may  acknowledge  that  the 
sonnet  form  is  one  that  forbids  abandonment  to  fine 
frenzies,  being  in  its  nature  repressive  of  exuberances, 
it  must  be  clear  to  any  reader  of  this  sequence  that  its 
underlying  note  is  that  of  a  passion  of  exalted  reserve. 
The  love  here  expressed  is  of  that  reticently  strong  sort 
which  characterizes  the  Anglo-Saxon.  The  passion  is 
strong  and  deep:  it  is  never  spectacular:  it  is  not  fantas- 
tic, whimsical.  This  poet  aims  not  to  make  an  effect 
soely,  to  turn  the  raptures  and  sorrows,  the  hopes 
and  fears,  the  wistfulness  of  his  spirit  into  startling 


FOREWORD 


copy.  He  writes  as  one  fulfilled  of  reverence  before 
the  great  boon  and  mystery  of  a  woman's  love.  Tbe 
impression  he  gives  us  is  of  the  sanctity  of  a  relationship 
in  which,  nevertheless,  there  is  full  recognition  of  the 
element  other  than  spiritual  which  must  go  to  the  mak- 
ing of  a  perfect  marriage.  Here  are  blended  the  charm 
of  Phyllis,  Phryne  and  Penelope,  the  grosser  passion,  of 
which  so  much  modern  writing  is  obsessed,  being,  how- 
ever, left  in  the  obscurity  to  which  modern  reserve  has 
relegated  it  as  something  taken  for  granted,  beautiful  in 
its  essence,  but  soiled  and  spoiled  by  being  made  famil- 
iar to  the  many. 

Mr.  McGaffey  makes  his  sonnets  a  continuous  hymn 
of  the  beautiful  in  Nature,  and  of  that  beauty,  with  its 
subtle,  pervading  sense  of  pathetic  impermanence,  as  in- 
terpreting and  interpreted  by  the  sane  and  sacred  love 
between  a  man  and  a  woman.  The  clean  atmosphere 
of  the  open  -world  is  in  every  sonnet.  All  the  airs  of 
heaven  blow  pureness  about  these  lovers.  ^Ve  have  no 
trace  of  contemporary  materialistic  views  of  love,  no 
insistence  upon  the  fascination  of  a  rampant,  savage, 
physically  clamorous  muliebrity.  The  spiritual  signifi- 


FOREWORD 


cance  or  the  great  Nature,  or  which  husband  ana  wire 
ana  their  love  for  one  another  are  a  part,  is  always 
strongly  suggested  and  this  without  cant  either  of 
orthodoxy  or  or  the  dolorous  minor  poet  always  la- 
menting the  inevitable,  immitigable  loss  or  himself  to  the 
•world.  There  is  no  negation  here.  Every  line  repu- 
diates "the  spirit  which  denies."  The  joy  of  living, 
the  pleasure  of  remembrance,  the  Lope  that  faces  the  fu- 
ture, the  confidence — not  too  confident,  however — that 
"there  is  a  budding  morrow  in  midnight  — all  these 
things  are  proclaimed  with  an  exultancy  that  is  unfail- 
ingly serene.  Emotion  and  intellect  are  finely  harmon- 
ized. There  are  in  these  sonnets  no  signs  of  mere  play- 
ing with  the  former  or  undue  pride  in  the  exhibition  of 
the  la$er  as  mere  cleverness.  The  poet  is  sincere  with 
himself,  and  yet  the  strain  of  happiness  is  so  frankly  in- 
sistent that  he  cannot  truly  be  called,  in  the  ordinary 
sense  of  the  term,  serious.  He  is  deliciously  un- 
didactic. 

A  characteristic  of  this  tribute  to  woman,  under  the 
form  of  a  glorification  of  the  one  woman,  which  will 
not  be  lost  to  the  fine  senses  of  those  who,  while  appre- 


FOREWORD 


ciating  the  banality  and  absurdity  or  recent  superlative 
manifestations  or  feminism,  nevertheless  realize  the 
enormity  or  the  crime  which  civilization  has  committed 
against  "the  sex  in  regarding  it  as  -wholly  secondary  to 
the  masculine  element,  is  the  fact  that,  throughout  this 
work,  the  wire  is  always  treated  as  the  companion  of 
the  husband.  Rather  let  us  say,  in  the  good,  warm 
sense,  this  poet  s  wire  is  his  "chum."  She  is  a  woman 
who  sees  and  tears  and  feels  the  gladness  of  earth  and 
air  and  sky.  She  is  a  -woman  of  the  open  air.  She 
knows  the  trees,  the  birds,  the  signs  of  the  changing 
seasons.  No  Eighteenth  Century  shepherdess  she,  but 
a  modern  American  woman,  enjoying  such  freedom  as 
only  the  American  woman  knows.  She  is  the  central 
figure  in  an  eminently  healthful  picture  of  life,  and  it  is 
this  fullness  of  health  -which  keeps  the  sonnets  clear  of 
all  morbidness.  True,  we  have  hints,  now  and  again, 
of  the  immanence  of  death — that  shadow  upon  all  the 
joy  or  the  -world  -which,  somehow,  seems  nevertheless 
to  give  to  joy  its  uttermost  poignancy — hut  the  -fact  is 
accepted.  The  poet  nor  whimpers  nor  whines.  He 
faces  his  fate.  He  has  his  love,  and  all  this  world 


FOREWORD 


which  that   love   glorifies,   and  love  is,  in   its  highest 
form,  both  hope  ana  faith. 

As  to  the  technique  or  these  sonnets,  it  were  idle 
to  maintain  that  it  is  faultless.  Mr.  McGafFey  almost 
prides  himself  upon  his  assertion  of  a  large  ignorance  of 
grammar  and  rhetoric.  It  is,  therefore,  well  to  say 
that,  considering  suck  self-confessed  limitation,  and 
considering  also,  that  the  sonnet  is  "a  difficult  and  cloy- 
ing form  of  verse,  and  that  the  form  is  necessarily  a 
rigid  restriction  upon  thought  and  feeling,  this  perform- 
ance is  almost  miraculously  artistic.  There  are  few 
literary  allusions,  because  the  substance  of"  the  work 
comes  straight  from  the  heart  and  from  Nature,  and 
not  from  hooks.  It  is  felt,  not  echoed  from  other 
poets.  Defective  sonnets  there  are  in  this  sequence, 
hut  the  very  defects,  generally  speaking,  give  the  -work 
a  warmth,  a  color,  a  spontaneity  which  might  have  been 
utterly  lost  through  too  much  concern  with  the  abstrusi- 
ties of  syntax  and  prosody.  It  is  easier  to  criticise 
these  sonnets  than  to  write  sonnets  that  will  compare 
with  them.  The  poet  is  greater  than  the  form  to 
which  he  submits  himself.  His  lyricism  asserts  itself 


FOREWORD 


triumphantly  always,  and  often  in  so   doing  it  bursts 
the  bonds  of  the  form  that  is  too  compressed  for  it. 

Here,  then,  are  these  "Sonnets  to  a  AVue."  They 
are  sweet  and  clean  and  strong.  They  are  the  glorifi- 
cation of  •womanliness  as,  taken  all  in  all,  the  finest 
thing  in  this,  the  only  world  we  know.  They  honor 
goodness.  They  breathe  tenderness  and  courage  and  a 
pantheistic  piety.  They  are  the  happy  mean  between 
the  ascetic  and  the  sensual  apprehension  of  life.  They 
are  the  ufterance  of  a  sane  passion  for  a  good  woman 
by  a  poet  who  is  also  a  good  man.  They  may  not  ap- 
peal to  the  taste  that  invariably  prefers  "Madam 
Bovary '  to  "The  Vicar  of  AVakefield,"  but  they  will 
touch  tenderly,  and  not  the  less  surely,  the  hearts  of  all 
those  who  feel  and  know  that  true  love  is  something 
more  than  a  blind,  bodily  instinct  or  desire  that  we 
have  in  common  with  the  beasts  that  perish. 

Clarion  Reedy. 


Sonnets  to  a    "Wife 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Life  at  its  Best 

Life  at  its  best  is  but  a  troubled  sea; 

The  snip  is  launched  with  snowy-spreading  sail 

To  lace  the  reels,  the  billows  and  the  gale. 
And  meet  the  perils  that  are  yet  to  be. 
Tbe  shore  she  left  fades  dimly  in  the  lee 

And  on  the  beach  the  forms  and  faces  fail; 

Come  what  come  may,  or  rain  or  sun  or  hail 
The  ship  glides  on,  the  mariner  is  free. 

But  Ah!  what  joy  when  backward  o'er  the  foam 

From  stress  of  storms  and  far,  unfriendly  lands. 

Held  in  the  hollow  of  the  sky's  vast  dome 

To  mark  at  last  the  well-remembered  sands; 

To  know  once  more  the  harbor  of  a  home 

And  welcome  of  a  woman's  outstretched  hands. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Th 


Not  with  the  thoughts  of  others  do  I  seek 
To  wake  your  interest  and  hold  it  fast; 
Not  with  a  fancy  from  the  huried  past 

Some  honeyed  fragment  of  the  ancient  Greek, 

Have  I  essayed  in  halting  form  to  speak, 

But  I  have  all  such  cunning  outward  cast 
And  trusted  to  the  Saxon  -words  at  last 

To  light  your  eyes  —  put  color  in  your  cheek. 

The  simplest  speech  is  truest;  when  I  say 

"I  love  you!  '  in  those  three  words  I  have  said 

All  that  I  know,  or  compass,  or  can  feel. 

Let  those  who  will,  adopt  the  tortuous  way 

The  while  their  thought  in  speech  obscure  is  led 

•Round,  round  and  round,  a  wheel  within  a  wheel. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


In  the  Fields 

on  tke  kills  tke  golden  sunlight  lies. 
And  apple-trees  are  keavy  witk  tke  snow 
Of  drifted  kloom  tkat  skades  tke  grass  below, 
\Vkile  far  akove  are  realms  of  cloudless  skies; 
v\  ken  overkead  tke  wandering  swallow  flies 
And  kufternies  in  loops  or  color  go ; 
Tken,  as  we  wait  togetker,  do  I  know 
tome  touch,  some  hint,  some  gleam  or  Paradise. 

sweet  song-sparrow  from  tke  poplar  sings 
Tke  swaying  leaves  put  f  ortk  tkeir  emerald  skields, 
ack  tremkling  blossom  wkere  tke  karred  kee  clings 
Its  store  of  sweets  tkrougk  drowsy  kours  yields ; 
sense  of  life,  wkat  joy  tkat  almost  stings, 
you  and  I  tkere  loitering  in  tke  fields. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Jeahusy 

If  to  be  jealous  is  to  Lope  to  gain 

Your  every  longing — make  all  other  men 

As  misty  to  your  memory  as  when 
The  shadows  slip  across  a  window-pane ; 
If  to  be  jealous  is  to  wish  to  reign 

Your  one  true  lover,  chide  me  once  again ; 

Call  me  as  jealous  as  Othello  then 
And  all  your  chiding  will  be  given  in  vain. 

For  I  am  one  who  cannot  hide  my  thought 

And  curb  my  tongue  and  make  my  cheek  a  liar ; 

The  tissues  or  my  nature  •was  not  wrought 
Of  lifeless  clay,  devoid  of  Pagan  fire. 

And  long  in  storm  and  anguish  have  I  sought 

And  now  have  found,  at  last,  my  Heart's  Desire. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


BOOKS 

Tomes  from  dull  minds  I  oftentimes  nave  read 
And  disquisitions  of  the  great  and  -wise, 
AnJ  sought  to  learn  tne  secrets  of  tne  skies 

On  wintry  nights  with  starry  scripture  spread; 

Through  labynnthian  passage  have  I  sped 

Of  romance  and  of  deeds  of  nigh  emprise, 
But  nothing  found  compared  to  your*dear  eyes 

Nor  poems  like  to  what  your  lips  have  said. 

To  read  a  woman  in  the  higher  sense 

Is  quite  heyond  the  power  of  men  s  wit ; 
ho  says  he  does  is  made  of  vain  pretense, 
And  never  can  hy  wisdom  henefit. 

Her  look  is  more  than  spoken  eloquence — 
Her  voice  the  sweetest  lyric  ever  -writ. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Love    W^ithout   'Passion 

Love  without  passion  is  a  flower  witkout  sun. 

Reft  of  tke  wind's  touck,  banished  from  tke  rain 
\Vrougkt  against  nature — tkeref ore  wrought  in  vain 

However  fine  its  tissue  may  be  spun; 

Its  petals  facie  and  wither  one  by  one 

Ana  in  tne  dust  and  under  dust  are  lain; 
Love  without  passion  is  the  dying  strain 

From  shattered  lutes  that  all  to  minors  run. 

True  love  is  as  the  rose;  the  roses  glow 

>V itk  life  and  color  in  tne  summer  air. 

Tke  winds  of  Autumn  tkrougk  tke  garden  klow, 
Tke  leaves  are  sca&ered  and  tke  vines  are  kare, 

Tke  snows  depart,  tke  grass  springs  up,  and  lo! 
Again  tke  ruddy  rose  is  blooming  tkere. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


On  the  Hills 

\Vhen  in  the  valley  where  the  river  ran 

And  sunlight  rippled  on  its  current  fair, 
^Vhile  shadowed  vistas  of  Autumnal  air 
Re-echoed  with  the  dying  notes  of  Pan: 

twilight's  herald  came  in  night's  dusk  van, 
sank  the  sun  in  western  splendor  there, 
joy  for  you  and  me  all  this  to  share 
Mid  wooded  glades  and  chords 


And  in  the  hush  that  followed  as  we  saw 
The  after-glow  dye  deep  the  waiting  slopes, 

^Vllile  brooding  silence  hushed  the  sombre  rills, 
Then  fell  upon  our  hearts  a  happy  awe 

And  light  and  shade  of  mingled  fears  and  hopes, 
Star-signalled  on  the  ramparts  of  the  hills. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Gods,  idols,  fetiches  of  wood  and  stone 
Or  carven  ivory  and  or  beaten  brass. 
They  rise  and  fall,  they  flourish  and  they  pass, 

Or  stand  disfigured  in  some  desert  lone; 

Creeds  come  and  go  and  on  the  sands  are  strown 
And  witter  like  the  winter-shaken  grass, 
And  all  suck  things  are  shadows  on  a  glass 

Xo  this  one  love  which  I  for  you  have  known. 

For  in  my  pagan  heart  I  hold  you  dear 
More  than  a  miser  might  his  store  of  gold, 

Or  ship-wrecked  tar  the  rescuing  sail  unfurled. 
In  my  religion  you  are  worship  here 
Beyond  all  gods  or  temples  manifold. 

The  sole  and  only  woman  in  the  world. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Recollections 

To  conjure  up  old  memories;  to  say, 

"Do  you  remember  that  in  suck  a  June, 
An  orchard  oriole  sang  us  a  tune 

Melodiously  from  out  a  branching  spray 

Or  leafy  denseness;  or  on  such  a  day 

\Ve  saw  the  silver  spectre  of  the  moon 
Long  after  dawn,  and  nearing  unto  noon, 

A  merest  wraith  of  sickle  gaunt  and  grey?" 

These  are  love's  echoes,  faintly  heard  and  fine 
But  ever-present,  never  dim  nor  mute. 

That  you  and  I  in  comradeship  do  share; 
Sweet  symphonies  that  breathe  a  sense  divine 
Like  misty  chords  that  linger  by  a  lute. 

Though  all  the  silver  strings  are  sha$ered  there. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Women 

Of  such  a  woman  it  may  well  he  said 

She  has  a  graceful  carriage;  or  is  fair; 

And  of  another  she  has  golden  hair 
And  praise  the  poise  and  heauty  of  her  head; 
Some  women  may  he  wrfty  and  well  read 

And  some  may  charm  hy  throats  and  bosoms  hare. 

All  are  Eve  s  daughters,  all  her  power  share 
To  conquer  man  and  lead  him  hy  a  thread. 

But  more  than  seeming  grace  or  outward  sign 
Of  loveliness  that  like  a  flower  is  seen, 

Is  what  she  keeps  shrined  sacred  and  apart; 
Some  glow  of  soul  like  sparkle  in  the  wine 

Some  shadowy  look,  like  Autumn  pool  serene. 
The  reflex  of  the  pureness  of  her  heart. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  11 


Ideals 

Not  rhapsodies  for  wbat  we  cannot  reacb 

Nor  longing  for  wbat  lies  beyond  our  power, 
But  just  to  make  lite  lovely  as  a  flower 

By  gitt  or  tenderness  in  thought  ana  speech; 

Thus  rain  and  dew  their  loving  lessons  teach 

In  lace-like  gleam  or  sudden-dropping  shower 
And  so  stall  we,  through  every  passing  hour, 

Hold  fast  to  higher  visions,  each  for  each. 

Fidelity  and  courtesy;  and  touch 

Or  hopefulness  to  meet  the  coming  years. 
And  strength  to  view  the  days  that  backward  roll,- 
These  will  I  give  you,  and  in  pledging  such 

Cast  offtbe  sbadows  of  all  crowding  fears. 
And  act  a  man's  part  truly,  beart  and  soul. 


12  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


In  Idle  Hours 

In  idle  Kours  to  back-ward  look  and  see 

The  tracery  of  wind  across  the  grass, 

To  mark  the  clouds  that  float  in  snowy  mass 

\Vith  myriad  nlmy  pennants  flowing  tree; 

To  kear  a  room  in  the  maple  tree. 

And  see  the  pool's  reflection  like  a  glass 
vV  here  light  and  shade  alternate  come  and  pass, 

\Vith  muffled  mellow  murmurings  or  the  bee: 

This  is  to  drink  of  nature's  brimming  cup 

In  woodland  nooks  of  slumberous  solitude, 
vV here  summer  holds  a  golden  beaker  up 

And  all  the  earth  by  beauty's  self  is  wooed; 

Do  you  remember  -where  the  dead  leaf  fell, 
The  violet's  blue,  the  empty  acorn  shell? 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Al 


one 


The  hum  of  many  voices  rises  near 

And  from  the  road  comes  Jin  of  carriage-wheels; 
Beyond  are  sails  that  draw  the  outbound  keels 
^vVhich  northward  from  the  shimmering  harhor  steer; 
And  there  are  myriads  of  strange  faces  here 

Smooth  brows  that  happy  childhood  s  hour  reveals, 
And  wrinkled  cheeks  where  care  has  stamped  his  seals 
And  wandering  crowds  hy  sea-wall  and  hy  pier. 

And  we  beneath  the  cloudless  summer  sky 

See  all  this  gathering  pass  us  in  a  stream, 
Nor  note  the  lights  that  on  the  water  gleam 

Nor  white-winged  gulls  that  seaward  dip  and  fly; 
^^e  are  alone — the  rest  is  hut  a  dream 

In  shadow-land  we  linger,  you  and  I. 


14  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


US1C 


A  wind-song  in  the  rushes,  or  a  sign 

From  Autumn  s  chorus  in  the  naked  trees. 
The  white-stoled  chanting  or  the  stately  seas 

Against  a  line  of  cliffs  that  tower  high — 

A  plover's  rippling  whistle  in  the  sky 

Or  wailing  of  the  flutes  in  minor  keys: 
I  in  my  time  have  Larked  to  all  of  these 

And  reedy  plash  of  waters  lisping  by. 

But  Oh!  now  harsh  such  chords  must  ever  seem 
Since  in  my  heart  I  hear  an  echo  come 

More  sweet  and  low  than  plaint  of  mourning-dove; 
The  reflex  of  the  note  that  is  my  dream. 
That  music  which  makes  other  music  dumb 
The  voice  of  the  one  woman  whom  I  love. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  15 


A  Woman's 


The  man  she  loves;  and  all  he  means  to  her 
Is  what  a  •woman  s  world  is;  in  her  way 
Or  living  and  or  loving  day  hy  day 

Sometimes  her  dreaming  eyes  will  nil  and  hlur 

Ana  memories  or  him  will  come  to  stir 

Her  heart-strings;  as  a  hlossom  s  self  might  sway 
XA'  hen  through  the  scented,  flowery  paths  or  May 

Drift  down  the  echoes  or  the  •winds  that  were. 

The  little  things  are  what  she  treasures  most; 
Sweet,  suhtle  courtesies  or  hand  and  speech, 

For  these  the  lover  s  attitude  still  teach 
Better  than  costly  gift  or  idle  hoast; 

As  one  who  reckons,  not  without  his  host, 
Holding  her  near  and  dear,  yet  out  of  reach. 


16  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


By  'Moonlight 

In  shadow-haunted  hush  or  lonely  place 

"W'ith  ripples  lapping  by  the  reedy  shores. 
And  glint  of  stars  along  the  watery  floors 

I  see  again  the  profile  or  your  face; 

The  moonlight  trailed  across  your  wrist  like  lace 
Then  disappeared  behind  its  cloudy  doors, 
\Vhile  we  sat  idly,  with  the  idle  oars 

1  wixt  earth  and  sky,  as  balancing  in  space. 

How  strange  and  beautiful  to  us  it  seemed, 
Held  in  the  hollow  of  the  night  to  float, 
^Vith  muffled  liquid  whisperings  round  the  boat 

^\^hile  overhead  the  constellations  dreamed; 

Some  faint-heard  rustle  from  the  distant  sands 

And  silence  brooding  o'er  our  close-locked  hands. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  17 


Companionship 

The  sense  or  comradeship  which  now  we  reel 

Grew  slowly  as  an  oak  Joes,  and  as  strong. 

For  now  to  one  another  we  belong 
In  all  that  makes  a  man  and  woman  leal; 
Our  lives  are  linked  as  firm  as  welded  steel 

And  in  our  thoughts  sweet  harmonies  do  throng. 

Like  half-remembered  echoes  of  a  song 
As  days  and  nights  above  our  pathway  wheel. 

So  do  the  perfume  and  the  joy  or  days 

Live  •with  us  and  the  season  s  sway  dispute. 

Spring,  Summer,  Autumn,  they  may  go  their  ways 
And  bring  nor  bud  nor  blossom  an  it  suit; 

Yet  what  reck  we,  beside  the  wintry  fire 

Sifting  alone,  I  and  my  Heart's  Desire? 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Afart 

Bleak,  bi#er  Lours,  when  separate  we  knew 

Days  •when  the  sun  sank  glowing  in  the  •west, 
Ana  quietly  tne  shadows  onward  pressed 

Until  the  twilight  blo#ed  out  the  blue. 

The  first  faint  stars  came  slowly  to  the  view 

And  home-bound  birds  flew  silent  to  their  nest, 
^^hile  swift  as  light  our  thoughts  in  eager  quest 

Pierced  outward,  yours  to  me  and  mine  to  you. 

Now  in  the  years  when  -we  together  dream 

Those  days  apart  have  lost  their  sombre  look; 
Mere  dog-eared  pages  of  Time's  well-thumbed  book 

And  not  to  us  belonging  do  they  seem. 

Thus  fate  at  last  hath  offered  full  amends 

And  made  those  lovers  who  were  once  but  friends. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


rees 


First  to  our  sight  their  tranches  brown  and  bare 
Stood  naked  in  the  days  or  early  spring, 
^^here  haply  showed  the  brilliant  azure  wing 

Of  some  conceited  jay-bird  roaming  there; 

And  then  came  May,  and  all  the  waiting  air 

^^as  white  with  dainty  blossoms  quivering 

^^ith  hordes  of  bees  that  gathered  there  to  cling, 

And  all  those  honeyed  sweets  to  claim  and  share. 

But  best  of  all  was  in  the  days  of  June, 

^Hien  thick  and  full  the  canopy  of  leaves 

Put  back  the  sun  with  sheltering  emerald  eaves, 

And  housed  us  from  the  fervent  light  of  noon; 

How  happily  we  told  there  in  the  shade 

Of  dreams  of  one  another,  unafraid. 


20  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


'Reserve 

Some  men  proclaim  tlieir  love  and  let  it  go 
In  pitiful  -wild  words  tbat  all  may  see, 
How  tbey  nave  signed,  or  bended  low  tbe  knee. 

God's  will  be  done;  I  was  not  fashioned  so; 

I  know  wbat  utter  love,  is  and  I  know 

\Vbat  tbis  our  life  togetber  bolds  for  me, 
But  keep  it  sacred,  as  not  meant  to  be 

Flung  gossip-ward,  to  tbe  four  winds  tbat  blow. 

I  marvel  at  tbose  singers  wbo  aspire 

To  lay  tbeir  souls  bare  to  tbe  rabble  tbrong; 
For  you  my  lips  bave  trembled  into  song 

And  you  snail  judge  if  I  lack  augbt  of  fire, 

If  tbat  my  beart-beats  bave  not  rung  like  cbimes 
tbe  ecboing  transept  of  tbese  rbymee. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  21 


Vanity 

To  he  a.a  charming  in  your  husband's  sight 

As  erst  you  were  when  he  your  lover  came, 
Go  linger  hy  tke  mirror's  polished  frame 

And  put  all  weariness  to  u$er  flight; 

Come  with  a  smile  and  let  your  eyes  he  bright. 
Be  gay,  he  sad,  hut  never  he  the  same; 
And  thus  your  lover  you  may  always  claim 

Else   lost  mayhap  hy  holding  him  too  light. 

An  this  he  vanity — to  add  a  rose 

To  glow  upon  your  bosom,  train  your  hair 
So  in  his  eyes  you  may  he  passing  fair — 

,  let  it  stand;  a  woman  hetter  knows 
That  careless  hands  and  sloven  taste  in  dress 
May  mar  the  spell  of  her  own  loveliness. 


22  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


In  the  \Vooas 

Deep  in  the  glimmering  depths  of  woods  to  wait 

\Vhere  countless  leaves  with  every  breeze  unfold, 
To  watch  the  sunshine  weave  its  thread  or  gold 

^fhere  tree  trunks  stand  in  tall  alignment  straight; 

To  hear  the  flicker  challenging  his  mate 

\Vith  chattering  note,  far-piercing  clear  and  hold, 
Ana  mark  how  dimly  in  the  forest  old 

The  lights  and  shadows  softly  palpitate; 

And  there,  shut  closely  from  the  outer  world 
To  lie  on  some  green  slope  and  idly  dream. 

Touch  hands,  and  smile,  while  over  us  unfurled 
The  leafy  banners  of  the  noontide  gleam — 

That  was  to  find  the  Ponce  de  Leon  spring 

Of  youth,  and  hope,  and  blossoms  burgeoning. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  23 


Tliere  IB  a  gold  unlocked  by  miser's  key 

And  gold  is  round  in  lees  of  sparkling  wine, 
And  tnere  is  gold  along  tne  swaying  vine 

\VLere  yellow  Lair-blown  roses  drooping  DC; 

Gold  and  to  spare  among  the  sands  at  sea 

And  palest  gold  in  saffron  stars  that  shine; 
And  gold  deep-digged  from  many  a  hidden  mine 

And  golden  leaves  upon  tne  willow  tree. 

But  all  this  aureate  glitter  is  for  naught 

AAr  hen  I  in  dreamful  mood  my  love  behold, 
Crowned  with  her  tangled  locks  of  tawny  gold 

Like  corn-silk  in  tbe  breeze's  meshes  caught. 

None  other  gold  may  match  it,  none  so  fair 
As  that  which  gathers  in  a  woman's  Lair. 


24  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


To  My  Wife 

I  as  an  actor,  liave  played  well  my  part, 

Not  stowing  how  tlie  sons  of  men  I  scorn; 
Those  shriveled,  greedy  souls  who  crave  the  corn 

Tke  oil  and  wine,  the  treasures  of  the  mart; 

Deep  in  my  soul  I  burn  the  flame  for  Art 
As  one  who  was  a  lyric  poet  horn. 
As  one  -who  leads  a  singer's  hope  forlorn 

Yet  with  unshrinking  and  unconquered  heart. 

I  can  exist  on  what  a  Spartan  can; 

Endure  as  granite;  smile  when  friends  do  fail; 

Face  Poverty,  and  see  the  years  grow  stale 
Or  hide  my  time  with  any  sort  of  man. 

Full  in  the  teeth  of  Fate  I  fling  the  glove — 

Come  age,  come  death,  while  I  have  you  my  love! 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  25 


Woman'*  Love 


If  I  have  fought  my  baser  self  and  raised 
My  thoughts  to  high  ideals,  it  is  due 
To  this  the  love  that  I  have  found  in  you 

As  I  in  your  dear  eyes  have  longing  gazed. 

\Vhen  I  look  hack  I  find  myself  amazed 

At  what  I  -was;  what  mire  I  floundered  through, 
So  far  I  wandered  from  the  pure  and  true 

\V  Kile  all  my  good  intentions  fitful  blazed. 

A  man  is  half  a  savage,  and  he  needs 

The  woman  s  presence  to  arouse  his  soul. 

Her  love  has  given  the  world  his  noblest  deeds, 

She  is  the  light  that  •warns  him  from  the  shoal  — 

The  reefs  —  the  rocks  —  where  fell  destruction  leads 
And  dark  engulfing  waters  silent  roll. 


26  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Midsummer 

The  red-winged  hiack-hird  whistled  from  tlie  reeds 
The  cat- tail  stalks  rose  thickly  straight  and  tall. 
By  meadow-slopes  rang  sweet  a  carnival 

Or  bobolinks  down-fluttering  on  the  meads; 

From  ribbon-grass  and  downy  road-side  •weeds 
Fine  powdered  particles  of  dust  would  fall, 
And  where  the  sun  shone,  through  an  old  stone 
wall 

Danced  in  its  light  a  myriad  of  seeds. 

Then  came  a  hush  in  Nature — one  that  fell 

Like  shadows  on  the  leaves,  so  soft  it  seemed, 

Or  like  that  pause  -which  follows  when  a  hell 

Peals,  and  is  silent;  and  we  sat  and  dreamed, 
\Vnile  all  around  the  waters  wove  their  spell 
And  far  above  the  cloudless  azure  gleamed. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  27 


Sisterhood 

All  women  torn  are  sisters;  low  or  lug 

Good,  baa,  indifferent  or  now  you  name 
Your  silk-berumed  and  most  naughty  dame 
\Vnose  gilded  carriage  rumbles  slowly  by. 
Your  drunken  courtesan  with  hair  awry, 

Barred,  marred    and    scarred  by  branding  irons  or 

shame. 

Lo!  in  their  childhood  they  were  all  the  same. 
And  have  no  false  distinctions  when  they  die. 

Oh!  sisters,  to  your  own  sex  most  unkind, 

How  will  it  fare  you  when  you  waste  your  breath 
And  sink  like  bubbles  in  the  sea  of  Death, 
If  to  your  sisters  you  were  deaf  and  blind? 

Remember  His  forgiveness,  which  sufficed 
For  Magdalen,  wko  washed  the  feet  of  Christ! 


28  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


^Water-Lilies 

rowed  the  hoat  among  them  as  they  lay 
Pale  lilies,  snowy  and  with  hearts  of  gold. 
That  sprang  from  under  depths  of  oozy  mould 
And  starred  the  waters  of  a  Summer  day; 
And  I  remember  after,  that  in  play 

You  wound  them  round  your  forehead  fold  on  fold, 
And  feigned  you  were  a  Naiad,  shy  and  cold 
Or  -water-sprite,  or  mocking  woodland  fay. 

Yet  an  you  were  a  Naiad,  this  I  know 

That  you  were  courted  hy  the  amorous  sun, 
>^no  kissed  your  creamy  lilies  one  hy  one 

Till  they  had  drooped  beneath  his  fervent  glow; 
But  ere  they  withered  in  the  twilight  there 
They  left  their  gold  hearts  tangled  in  your  hair. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  29 


Love's  Philosophy 

A  rock  stands  harmless  from  a  little  rain 

But  many  storms  will  -wear  its  strength  away; 
Ana  thus  in  lite  when  men  and  •women  say 

Those  bitter  words  which  hasten  strife  ana  pain, 

And  still  repeat  till  hope  of  peace  is  vain; 

Lo!  as  the  Lour- glass  sands  divide  the  day 

So  these  small  things  Lave  parted  them  for  aye, 

And  Love  through  such  harsh  means  itself  hath  slain. 

A  venomed  adder  is  the  human  tongue 

A^Tien  tipped  with  anger,  he  it  either  sex; 
And  who  when  stirred  with  controversy,  recks 

How  deep  or  keen  the  cruel  words  have  stung? 
Curh  then  the  lips  and  emulate  the  dove. 
Lest  wounding  one  whose  life  is  in  your  love. 


30  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


To  the  Woman 

Xo  lead,  not  drive  mm,  is  the  "wiser  plan 

For  tactfulness  'will  tame  him  all  tne  years, 
And  tenderness,  not  tyranny  he  fears, 

For  men  were  ever  but  a  stubborn  clan; 

And  long  ago  since  first  the  -world  began 

And  stars  rose  dimly  in  tne  primal  spheres, 
A  little  -wit,  diplomacy,  and  tears.  — 

havoc  nave  they  wrought  with  every  man! 


So  snail  you  conquer,  as  the  gentle  rain, 
Soothing  his  vanity  to  gain  your  ends, 
Moulding  ms  •wishes  till  tney  meet  your  own; 

Thus  as  a  child  bis  confidence  you  gain 

For  still  to  fla$ery  his  heart  unbends,  — 
Only  a  child,  a  liftle  larger  grown. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  31 


To  the  Man 

If  you  a  -woman  would  desire  to  Lold 

FaitLful  and  true,  and  guided  by  your  will. 
Be  sure  no  art,  nor  flattery's  fine  skill 

SKall  e'er  deceive  Ler,  nor  will  gifts  or  gold; 

By  love  alone  her  spirit  is  controlled. 
This  is  her  law,  Ler  Deity,  until 
The  light  falls  pale  upon  her  forehead  still 

The  red  lips  ashen,  and  the  heart  grown  cold. 

So  shall  you  -woo  her  if  you  wish  to  win 

Her  heart  and  soul,  to  wear  Ler  like  a  flower 

To  drain  Ler  kisses,  and  keep  Lack  Ler  tears; 

Filling  with  love  the  space  she  lingers  in; 

Making  Ler  dream  of  you  eacL  passing  Lour 

^^itL  utter  longing  tLrougL  tLe  iron  years. 


32  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


looming 

The  kildee's  cry  along  the  sandy  snore 

The  pine-tops  in  the  distance,  and  a  still 
Far  sense  of  brooding  on  each  -wooded  kill; 

The  fallen  trunk  of  a  Luge  sycamore 

Around  whose  roots  the  river's  waters  pour, 
And  everywhere  a  subtle  dawning  thrill 
That  grows,  and  spreads,  and  palpitates  until 

The  red  sun  peeps  above  the  eastern  door. 


joy  to  stand  above  our  vantage  ground 
Beneath  the  shade  of  overhanging  beech; 

To  drink  in  every  chord  of  sylvan  sound 

Learning  the  lessons  that  the  woods  can  teach; 

Our  hearts  and  souls  by  sympathy  thus  bound 

And  happy  more  in  thought  and  less  in  speech! 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  33 


/u;0      oves 

If,  loving  you,  I  sometimes  seem  as  sad 

Or  dull,  or  tinged  witb  tint  of  sober  mood, 
It  is  because  I  feel  my  life  renewed 
Having  your  love;  and  still  my  treasures  add 
As  misers  do;  and  wbat  of  •woe  I've  bad 

No  more  witb  its  gaunt  shadows  may  intrude; 
Tnus  silence  fills  tbe  nappy  interlude 
I  sit  wordless,  worshiping,  and  glad. 


A  boy's  love  and  a  man's  love  intertwined 
I  give  to  you  to  govern  all  tne  time, 
^^betber  it  run  to  reason  or  to  rhyme. 

Tbe  passion  and  tne  purity  combined; 

Tbe  man's  love,  strong  to  figbt  and  work  and  plan, 
Tbe  boy's,  to  wake  tbe  lover  in  tbe  man. 


34  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


On  a  Country  Road 

A  whitened  length  of  grayish  Just  that  leads 

Past  a  rough  bridge  where  grape-vines  idly  trail; 

From  distant  woods  the  -whistle  of  a  quail 
And  butterflies  that  flit  above  the  -weeds. 
Horizon-ward  a  bluish  haze  recedes 

And  flaunts  a  snowy  cloud-shape  like  a  sail; 

The  scent  of  strawherries  along  a  swale 
Comes  pungently  to  anyone  who  heeds. 

How  slowly  and  how  joyous  passed  that  day, 
The  wayside  roses  climbing  in  a  throng ; 

The  far-brought  odor  of  the  new-mown  hay 
The  cherries  dangling  as  we  rode  along; 

And  cheering  us  along  the  home-ward  way 

The  sweet-wrought  flutings  of  the  robin's  song! 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  35 


Re-mcarnatron 

Tke  flower  you  gatKered,  blossomed  long  ago 

^Vanned  ky  past  sunshine,  jeweled  witk  tke  rain 
Of  kygone  years;  tke  river's  liquid  strain 

\Vkick  now  you  near,  was  once  tke  purling  flow 

Of  a  lost  stream;  tke  very  winds  tkat  klow 

Have  come  and  gone,  will  come  and  go  again; 
And  wkere  tke  primal  grass  kas  decked  tke  plain 

Year  after  year  tke  later  grasses  grow. 

And  tkus  witk  every  line  tkat  lovers  trace; 

However  dear,  or  passionate  tke  •word, 
Tke  self-same  tkougkt,  in  a  dead  kosom  stirred 

Has  krougkt  tke  roses  to  some  woman's  face; 
And  all  tke  worskip  tkat  my  rkymmg  brings 
Is  kut  an  ecko  of  forgo&en  tilings. 


36  S  ONN  ETS    TO    A    W  I  F  E 


Analysis 

To  weigh  as  in  a  finely  balanced  scale 

Each  thought  and  action  that  the  season  brings, 
Is  but  to  fret  the  spirit  -with  those  things 

^Vhich  after  all  are  of  the  least  avail. 

It  is  enough  to  know  we  shall  not  fail 

In  all  the  sweet  and  high  imaginings, 

The  nobler  thoughts  which  lend  to  Love  his  wings 

Though  Time  and  Fate  and  even  Death  assail. 

Analysis  is  common,  and  may  seem 

Through  instances,  conclusive  as  the  leaf 

Borne  to  the  Ark  by  the  returning  dove; 

But  oftentimes  may  prove  to  be  a  theme 
sends  the  worm  of  jealousy  and  grief 
To  blight  the  blossom  of  a  perfect  love. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  37 


Tact 

A  woman's  crowning  glory  is  her  tact. 

The  art  or  knowing  when  ana  what  to  say; 

\Vhen  to  be  grave,  indifferent,  or  gay, 
And  seem  so  charming  in  her  every  act 
That,  as  a  magnet,  she  will  men  aftract 

And  easily  compel  them  to  her  sway. 

So  shall  she  rule,  or  golden  hair  or  gray, 
The  suhtlest  type  or  womanhood  in  fact. 

For  tact  is  more  than  beauty,  more  than  wit. 
Akin  to  genius,  and  the  sum  of  all 

A^hich  makes  the  woman  who  is  blessed  with  it 
A  Queen  by  right,  in  hovel  or  in  hall; 

Sweet  as  the  honeyed  lines  by  poet  writ 

And  true  as  rings  the  wild-bird's  madrigal. 


38  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


In  Idleness 

To  lie  upon  the  grass  and  watch  the  herds 
Deep  standing  in  the  river,  and  to  see 
The  harred  gold  glisten  on  the  humhle-hee 

And  note  the  noisy  gossip  of  the  hirds; 

To  mark  the  hlue  horizon-rim  that  girds 
That  purple  world  heyond.  Infinity — 
Under  the  shade  or  a  -wild-cherry  tree 

To  wait  and  listen,  hampered  not  hy  words. 

This  was  our  gladness  on  a  long  June  day 

Companioned  hy  the  lazy  lapse  or  hours, 
ebbed  the  slow,  enchanted  time  away 

hird-songs  came,  like  intermittent  showers, 
And  drowsy  sweet  upon  us  where  we  lay. 
The  perfume  of  the  elderherry  flowers. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  39 


A  Burden  of  Vain 


A  burden  of  vain  wishes:  topes  that  died 

Vague  dreams  oi  tame  and  wraiths  of  brave  renown 
Pass  in  the  sunlight,  motes  that  vanish  down 

Beyond  me,  standing  on  this  old  hill-side, 

And  disappear  in  circling  vistas  wide 

Like  Autumn  leaves  that  sealer,  -worn  and  hrown 
>A/nen  Summer  lays  aside  her  ta&ered  crown, 

And  sombre  winds  and  rusted  fields  abide. 

A  burden  of  vain  -wishes!     Nay,  not  so! 

Your  hand-clasp  is  my  haven  and  my  hope, 
Your  love  and  faith  the  utmost  gross  and  scope 

Of  dreams  and  fact  —  this  at  the  last  I  know, 

Here,  waiting  while  the  sunset  s  after-glow 

Burns  like  a  torch  in  valley  and  on  slope. 


40  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


om 


There  ia  a  culture  deeper  far  than  books 

And  intellect  beyond  the  ken  of  schools; 
\Vise  sayings  sometimes  on  tne  lips  of  fools 

And  knowledge  stored  in  many  quiet  nooks. 

A  woman  is  as  cultured  as  she  looks. 

Speaks,  acts,  and  smiles,  and  merely  bookish  rules 
She  \vell  may  scorn  as  being  clumsy  tools 

\Vitb  which  dull  fishers  file  their  rusty  hooks. 

This  intellect  that  scholars  pra&le  of 

^Vhy,  wbat  does  it  accomplish?     Every  age 

Has  witnessed  through  the  perfidy  of  Love 

How  woman  snows  the  folly  of  tbe  sage. 

Nay!  tben.  Sir  Oracle,  reserve  tby  wit 

Some  woman's  eyes  snail  give  thee  need  of  it. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  41 


Lost  Days 

The  tapestry  of  shadows — ghosts  of  dreams 

That  flickered  through  the  silence  and  were  gone. 
Lost  days  that  we  together  leaned  upon 

Have  faded,  and  tke  recollection  seems 

As  dim  as  sunken  starlight  in  the  streams, 

^\^ken  on  a  Summer  night  reflections  wan 

From  cloudy  heights  to  watery  depths  are  drawn. 

To  glimmer  in  the  current's  under-gleams. 

Lost  days,  but  cherished;  mirrored  in  a  naze 

Of  tkreadbare  seasons,  A^inter,  Autumn,  Spring, 

And  Summer  witk  ner  moss-hegirdled  ways 
And  flask  and  flutter  of  a  bird's  soft  wing; 

But  wko  shall  pierce  tke  labyrintkian  maze 

To  tell  us  wkere  tkeir  skades  are  wandering? 


42  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Evening 

Tne  tree-toad's  call  from  branches  dead  and  green, 
And  from  the  grass  a  cricket's  rasping  cry; 
An  afterglow  across  tne  Eastern  sky 

Red  as  a  far-flung  fire-brand  a  ruddy  sheen; 

Tne  lapping  of  swift  ripples  snot  between 
Old  logs  that  rigid  in  the  current  lie, 
Tne  shadow  of  our  boat  that  passes  by 

Above  brown  sands  that  dimly  now  are  seen. 

This  was  to  float  with  silence  and  the  night 

^iVove  through  the  mesh  of  twilight  like  a  strand; 

To  note  the  twisting  of  the  bat  s  weird  flight 
And  glint  of  fire-flies  on  the  shelving  sand, 

To  be  removed  from  earthly  essence  quite 

Two  shadows  drifting  into  shadow-land. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  43 


Youth 

Age  ia  not  always  given  with  gray  hair 

Nor  youth  encompassed  in  the  fewest  years; 
Since  doubt  and  pain  with  their  attendant  tears 

Are  dauntless  etchers  or  the  lines  of  care; 

Youth  is  most  present  in  the  joys  we  share 
As  swift  or  slow  the  season  disappears, — 
The  verve,  the  gladness  which  puts  hy  all  fears. 

The  hopes  we  nourish  and  the  smiles  we  wear. 

I  think  of  you  as  always  heing  young 

Untouched  hy  Sorrow  and  unworn  hy  Time, 

Spring's  blossoms  opening  in  your  tender, smile; 
Like  her  of  whom  the  elder  Bards  have  sung. 
Chanting  her  praise  in  many  a  noble  rhyme — 
Like  Cleopatra  hy  Egyptian  Nile. 


44  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Tapestry 

In  the  Jeep  twilight  -when  my  random  thought 

\Veaves  in  the  silence  and  surrounding  shade 
^^ebs  of  odd  fancies,  glittering  like  brocade, 

Or  sombre  woof  or  darker  musings  brought; 

Then  bave  tbe  bours  with  mystery  still  fraught 
Full  on  the  wall  a  motley  texture  laid, 
^^ithin  the  loom  of  darkness  spun  and  made 

In  divers  hues  together  nrmly  wrought. 

And  all  the  warp  of  this  weird  spinning  seems 
Forever  old  and  yet  forever  new; 

\Vith  rusted  spots  and  sudden  golden  gleams 
A  subtle  blending  of  the  false  and  true; 

The  dull  threads  hinting  of  my  wasted  dreams 
The  bright  ones  telling  of  my  love  for  you. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


45 


lumact 


Yve  climbed  the  slops  above  the  valley  s  edge: 
Behind,  the  country  road,  a  ribbon  lay 
Or  powdery  dust  down-winding  dim  and  gray; 
A  bird  sang  sweetly  from  a  thorny  hedge 

And  ripples  circled  in  the  river  sedge, 

^Vhile  brown  October  dozed  the  hours  away; 
And  northward  and  beyond  the  hillside  clay 

The  clustering  sumach  flamed  along  a  ledge. 

i 

The  life  of  ruddy  Autumn  filled  its  veins 

Deep-glowing  masses  glinting  in  the  sun, 

Redder  than  the  -wild  strawberry,  where  it  stains 

The  woodland  ways  mid  light  and  shadow  spun; 

A  gorgeous  dream,  a  color-draught  divine. 

Spilled  on  the  golden  afternoon  like  wine. 


46  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Love-Letters 

Let  the  light  flame  consume  tliem  and  be  done 

A^/Tule  their  charred  fragments  in  the  embers  lie. 
The  old,  sweet  record  of  the  days  gone  hy. 

Read  tnem  and  burn  them,  lingering,  one  by  one; 

Tlie  swift  months  gather  and  the  seasons  run 

^\^ith  none  to  tell  us  of  the  when  or  why; 
Let  them  as  ashes  vanish  in  the  sky. 

Since  this  our  courtship  has  hut  just  begun. 

Better  to  miss  them  when  we  parted  he 

Than  through  some  fault  or  lapsing  of  the  years, 
To  have  them  made  a  target  for  the  sneers 

Or  jest,  or  scorn,  of  Curiosity; 

For  there  are  those  who  tear  such  things  apart 
To  feast  and  mumble  on  a  human  heart. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  47 


Spring 

The  sleet  drives  sharply  on  the  window-panes 
And  naked  trees  like  scaffolds  darkly  stand; 
The  iron  grasp  of  winter  on  the  land 

Locks  fields  and  streams  in  gli&ermg  icy  chains; 

The  north-wind  wails  in  keen  Polaric  strains 
And  dead  leaves  dance  a  ghostly  saraband, 
\Vhile  cloud-fleets  dim,  hy  shapes  fantastic  manned 

Sail  westward  where  the  sunset  coldly  wanes. 

But  hy  the  blaze  of  our  red-glowing  grate 

\v  e  see  heyond  the  armored  line  of  eaves. 
And  mark  the  flashing  of  a  flicker  s  wing; 

And  violets  in  the  hlue  flames  seem  to  wait, 

Awhile  shining  through  a  mist  of  emerald  leaves, 

Beckons  and  laughs  the  sweet,  fresh  face  of  Spring. 


48  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


The  Flight  of  Time 

The  flight  or  Time  will  through  the  cycles  wing 
And  one  age  follow  on  another's  path; 
The  leaves  of  May  will  feel  Novemher's  wrath 

And  January  blossom  into  Spring; 

And  side  hy  side  we,  onward  wandering. 

Shall  learn  the  lesson  that  each  season  hath. 
The  hud  and  shard,  the  glow  and  aftermath 

The  hopes  that  vanish  and  the  dreams  that  cling. 

A  day  is  like  a  swallow's  shadow  cast 

On  sleeping  waters;  for  an  instant  there 
Etched  hy  the  restless  pinion  in  mid-air. 

Vague  and  elusive  as  the  fleeting  past; 

So  let  us  cleave  to  gladness  in  our  day 

\Vhile  Time,  that  miser,  hoards  the  years  away. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  49 


Late  Violets 

Fast-bidden  in  October's  grassy  swales 

Late  violets  lay;  we  round  them,  you  and  I, 
^^nile  gusty  winds  unbridled  galloped  by 

And  smoky  Indian-summer  rilled  tbe  vales; 

And  wken  tbe  grass  divided  in  tbe  gales 

Tbey  glinted  tbere  like  bits  of  Autumn  sky, 
Tben  disappeared,  as  sylvan  fairies  sby 

\VKen  clamor  rude  tbeir  close  retreat  assails. 

Late  violets;  blue  as  deep-sea  deptbs  unstirred, 

They  nestled  tbere,  and  beard  tbe  pulse  of  earth 
Reverberate  witbm  its  bollow  girtb 

Like  to  a   giant  ecbo,  faint  and  blurred; 

And  far  beyond  tbe  sweep  of  A^inter's  wing 
AVe  saw  tbeir  paler  sisters  of  tbe  Spring. 


50  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Autumn  Reveries 

Along  the  slopes  tKe  fading  stubbles  show 

And  in  tbe  woods  a  purple  vapor  swims, 
^^bile  bickory-nuts  from  tne  wind-sbaken  limbs 

Drop  down  and  nestle  in  tbe  leaves  below; 

Tbe  sumacb  burns  witb  ever-deepening  glow 
And  sbadows  lurk  about  tbe  sballow  rims 
Or  silent  pools;  wbile  eastward  slowly  dims 

Tbe  penciled  fligbt  of  a  departing  crow. 

And  you  and  I  bere  on  tbis  russet  bill 

Drink  deep  tbe  beaker  of  Autumnal  wine 

Held  to  our  lips,  and  feel  tbe  nameless  tbrill 

Tbat  ebbs  and  flows  in  cbanging  sbade  and  sbine; 

Tbe  breeze  is  dead;  tbe  trees  are  rapt  and  still 
As  pilgrims  kneeling  at  a  desert  sbrine. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  51 


Rosemary 

Rosemary  for  remembrance — may  this  be 

A  leaf  where  treasured  happiness  is  sealed 
Unknown  to  others;  which  to  us  -will  yield 

(Our  memory  the  magic  opening  key) 

A  fragrant  scent  of  the  lost  days  set  free 
A  music  to  our  listening  ears  revealed; 
As  a  rough  shell,  that  sometimes  holds  concealed 

TKe  mystic  murmurous  secret  of  the  sea. 

For  something  to  the  wri$en  line  belongs 

Beyond  the  word  that's  uftered;  through  the  pen 
This  verse,  mayhap,  shall  come  to  live  again 

And  take  its  place  among  remembered  songs; 
you  and  I,  and  all  our  love  and  trust 
Are  blended  into  long-forgoften  dust. 


52  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Dawn 

The  grey  dawn  flooded  in  the  lonely  room 

That  mourned  your  absence;  on  the  western  wall 
The  sallow  shafts  of  sunbeams  struck,  to  fall 

As  sadly  as  they  would  across  a  tomb; 

A  shadow  in  the  corner  was  a  plume 

That  night  had  dropped  from  off  her  sable  pall; 
A  thorny  rose  stood  leafless  in  the  hall. 

Your  going  thus  had  rotted  it  of  its  tloom. 

The  very  pictures  were  aware  of  this 

As  silver-stoled  and  silent  slowly  came 
The  first  reluctant  messengers  of  Dawn; 

Of  all  you  are,  and  all  you  are  to  miss 

Byron  seemed  speaking  from  his  oval  frame, 

And  Greek  Aspasia  whispered,  "she  is  gone!" 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  53 


(oon 


The  book  I  hold  within  my  idle  clasp 

Is  closed,  and  sealed,  for  aught  I  care  indeed; 
My  mind  has  now  no  leisure  hour  to  read 

No  tale  or  love,  nor  old  romance  to  grasp; 

My  thoughts  hang  shattered,  as  a  broken  hasp 

And  touch  of  Lands  not  Fancy's  touch  I  need; 
For  since  you  left  my  heart  begins  to  bleed 
ere  Memory  has  pierced  it  like  an  asp. 


To  love  you  and  to  lose  you  for  a  day 
A  loss  irreparable  to  me  it  seems  — 

The  sting  of  Fate,  the  -worm  that  never  dies. 
I  cannot  live  to  have  you  long  away 
And  see,  alas!  as  only  in  my  dreams, 
The  light  of  recognition  in  your  eyes. 


54  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Niglit 

>\'nat  shadows  troop  across  the  fading  floor 

AA^hat  hush  floats  ever  as  tne  shadows  turn! 
Like  ashes  brooding  in  a  sullen  urn 
Mocking  the  shades  of  those  who  went  before, 
My  thoughts  lie  heavy,  and  I  dream  no  more 
But  ever  for  your  absent  face  I  yearn; 
And  grudgingly  my  sombre  lesson  learn 
Of  waiting  for  your  footstep  at  the  door. 

Mayhap  my  wish  is  selfish;  just  to  see 

Your  hand  in  mine;  to  know  that  you  are  here 
Close,  with  the  lyrics  of  your  tears  or  smiles; 
I  cannot  say  what  this  will  mean  to  me 

Nor  all  the  ways  in  which  I  hold  you  dear. 
Across  this  void  of  unrelenting  miles. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  55 


Anniversary 

This  is  that  day  or  days  when,  long  ago, 

vVe  stood  together  by  an  ancient  man 
Ana  heard  him  drone  about  the  Scriptural  plan 

\Vnich  plighted  men  and  women  here  below; 

And  westward  burned  the  Autumn  afterglow 
\\  hile  scarlet  vines  across  the  branches  ran. 
And  flying  leaves,  a  russet  caravan 

Fled  down  the  vales  in  rustling  overflow. 

I  scarcely  recollect  the  spoken  words, 

Nor  care  I  for  the  ceremony  vain 
1|vvrhich  said,  forsooth.,  that  God  had  made  us  one. 

Since  Love  had  mated  us  as  mate  the  birds — 
And  on  the  windows  was  the  ^Vest's  bright  stain 

The  parting  benediction  of  the  sun. 


56  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Haziness 

Not  to  be  bappy  in  our  own  conceit 

Or  faitb,  and  trutb,  and  well-remembered  days 

In  breezy  woods  and  empty,  pastoral  ways, 
MVbere  tbe  brown  waves  of  leaves  Autumnal  beat; 
But  more  to  wisb  tbat  otber  souls  may  meet 

And  find  tbeir  comrades  in  tbis  eartnly  maze; 

Tbat  men  and  women,  like  to  us,  will  gaze, 
Eacb  in  eacb  otber's  eyes  and  find  lire  sweet. 

"\Ar  ben  you  and  I  togetber  silent  wait 

Not  only  do  tbese  tbougbts  of  Tbee  and  Me, 

Knock  at  our  hearts,  as  at  an  inner  gate, 

But  tbrougb  tbe  wonder  and  tbe  mystery, 

Deep  in  our  dreams  we  pray  a  kindly  fate; 
For  lovers  past,  and  lovers  yet  to  be. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  57 


In  'Days  to  Come 

In  days  to  come,  wben  we  are  old  and  gray 

Bent  witb  tbe  years  and  disciplined  by  Time, 
Trembling  and  feeble  we  will  scan  tins  rbyme 

^VllOse  ligbt  for  us  bas  almost  dimmed  away. 

And  baply  tben  remember,  if  we  may. 

Some  sweet  suggestion  or  our  youtb  sublime. 
Some  keen    reminder  wbicb  like  bruised  tbyme 

Shall  bring  tbe  memory  or  our  Summer  day. 

Tbere  is  no  life  but  loving;  naugbt  but  Youtb 

To  make  love  perfect;  wben  tbe  rose-leaves  fall 

Tbe  perfume  witbers,  wbile  tbe  birds  are  dumb. 
And  tbus  indeed  I  could  in  very  trutb 

Pray  tbat  we  botb  migbt  early  yield  tbis  tbrall. 
And  so  lose  ^vVinter  in  tbe  days  to  come. 


58  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Hero- 


To  every  man  some  doting  -woman  lends 
A  halo  or  enchantment;  in  ner  eyes 
He  is  most  noble,  loving,  brave  and  wise; 

This  worsliip  like  to  incense  pure  ascends 

And  with  her  dreams  in  painted  glamour  blends 
Like  rainbow  melting  in  the  western  skies; 
His  lightest  word  is  something  dear  to  prize 

His  chance  caress  for  sorrow  full  amends. 

Ok,  mystery!  that  woman  cannot  see 

Her  own  superiority  to  man, 
^^Tkich  soars  on  nigh  like  eagle's  -wing  above  — 
Just  as  it  was.  Las  been,  will  ever  be, 

Because  ordained  by  God's  primeval  plan, 
Her  greater  faith,  fidelity  and  love. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  59 


To  picture  you  when  far  apart  from  me. 

To  guess  now  you  might  occupy  the  day; 
"WTiether  the  moments  slowly  glide  away 
And  if  tke  Lours  or  swift  or  tedious  be; 

And  never  from  this  patient  vigil  free, 

But  like  a  statue  in  tne  sculptor's  clay 
Musing  and  brooding,  or  as  Moslems  pray, 

Stretching  my  hands  through  silence  out  to  thee. 

Tbere  is  so  liftle  time.  Love,  after  all. 

To  walk  together;  suck  a  liftle  while 

Before  our  lives  will  melt  as  in  a  breath; 

How  soon,  alas,  the  leaves  of  April  fall! 

How  much  I  miss  the  joyance  of  your  smile. 
And  waiting  seems  the  Inverness  of  death. 


60  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Dreams 

Not  always  nave  we  prudent  sowed  the  seed 
Of  thoughts  prosaic,  as  to  wisely  reap, 
The  less  impassioned  memories  that  keep 

Our  lives  more  commonplace  in  word  and  deed: 

For  Fancy  sometimes  blows  upon  her  reed 
And  Romance  dimly  rises,  naif-asleep, 
^w  hile  over  heart  and  brain  and  spirit  sweep 

Faint  chords,  like  wings  from  mystic  cages  freed. 

Either  a  song  of  gladness  or  of  tears 

In  sunshine  rippling  or  on  shadow  cast, 

Thus  to  our  ears  this  mocking  music  seems; 

Something  to  listen  for  through  flying  years 

Rapt  echoes  of  the  future  or  the  past. 

The  respite  and  the  recompense  of  dreams. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  61 

Affinity 

The  sparks  fly  always  upward,  and  my  soul 

Spreads  wings  to  meet  yours,  as  its  one  true  mate, 
^^hether  the  paths  be  blossom-crowned  or  strait 

"MV nether  in  gladness  or  in  bifter  dole; 

No  voice  but  yours  can  soothe  me,  or  control, 
No  words  save  yours  my  ways  illuminate; 
I  am  content  to  follow,  lead  or  -wait, 

My  eyes  fixed  ever  on  the  distant  goal. 

Not  oak  and  vine  are  we,  but  lovers  twain 
\Vho  face  the  world  together  side  by  side. 
And  so  shall  bide  until  our  latest  breath; 
In  storm  or  shine,  in  burning  sun  or  rain 

Through  life  s  long  ways  in  comradeship  allied, 
Not  to  be  parted  by  the  hands  of  death. 


62  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


LaugJit 


er 


The  touch  of  mirth  still  cherish,  as  is  test. 

Laughter,  with  lips  slow-spreading  to  a  smile; 

^JVliat  -were  this  world  without  the  quip  and  wile 
The  cap  and  hells,  the  old  time-honored  jest? 
Vv  elcome  the  coming,  speed  the  departing  guest; 

And  still  with  merriment  the  way  heguile. 

A  little  joy  shall  last  the  longest  while, 
Be  gay,  look  up,  he  merry  with  the  rest. 

For  mark  the  limpid  quibbles  of  the  streams. 
The  joyousness  that  sunshine  scatters  far. 

The  crooning  exultation  of  the  sea! 
Better  he  glad  with  careless  John-a-Dreams 
Than  linger  where  the  sober  sages  are 
And  lose  the  wiser  sense  of  jollity. 


SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE  63 


Sanctuary 

As  from  the  toil  and  turmoil  of  the  world 
I  come  to  bring  good  fortune  or  defeat, 
And  once  again  your  loving  eyes  to  meet, 

Then  droops  the  rest,  like  a  lone  tanner  furled 

By  idle  winds;  for  all  my  thoughts  are  whirled 
Toward  you,  like  a  cloud  of  swallows  fleet; 
And  all  tne  cares  that  follow  at  my  feet 

Like  wraiths  against  tne  darkness  tack  are  hurled. 

Home  is  where  love  is,  and  no  doutt  can  pierce 
That  inner  space  where  you  and  I  do  dwell, 

Nor  cast  a  lurking  shadow  on  its  floor; 
However  teats  the  tide  teyond  us  fierce 
However  prowls,  with  ululating  yell. 
The  ever-watchful  wolf  teside  the  door. 


64  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


In  the  Beech 


Broad  screens,  which  shut  the  dawnlight  from  the  earth 
Of  emerald  leaves  dense  woven  thick  across; 
And  under  foot  were  strips  of  velvet  moss 

That  sloped  around  the  beech-tree  s  mighty  girth. 

No  bird-song  breaking  into  sudden  mirth 

But  silence,  and  a  sadness  for  such  loss, 
^/Vith  here  and  there  a  shred  of  sunlight's  gloss 

To  lighten  up  the  forest's  flowerless  dearth. 

So  must  the  Eden  garden  once  have  stood 

Vv  hen  Adam  and  his  bride  went  on  their  way: 
No  birds  nor  flowers  in  the  pleasant  wood 
But  sombre  aisles,  and  solemn  spaces  gray. 
Do  you  remember  how  we  found  it  there? 
A  green  cathedral,  ghostly-still  and  hare! 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  65 


Contentment 

To  glean  the  fields  of  life  and  take  the  grain 

\Vith  thorns  or  poppies  as  the  gods  decree; 

To  lightly  jest  at  ^\^inter's  wrath  and  see 

Flowers  in  frost  upon  the  window-pane; 
To  huild  our  airy  castle-walls  in  Spain, 

However  hare  the  near  surroundings  he  — 

This  is  the  secret  of  content;  the  key 

men  have  given  all  the  world  to  gain. 


find  it  where  the  sun  and  shadows  meet 
In  sylvan  spaces  cloistered  from  the  town, 

V^liere  vague,  yet  clear,  its  presence  may  he  seen; 
It  rustles  in  the  dead  leaves  at  our  feet 
It  catches  at  the  ruffle  of  your  gown, 
And  heckons  on  with  happy  eyes  serene. 


66  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Oorrow 

The  saving  grace  of  sorrow  has  teen  ours 

So  that  this  present  happiness  is  sweet; 

Yea!  doubly  so,  since  long  ago  our  feet 
^7  ere  pierced  hy  thorns,  and  seldom  touched  hy  flowers; 
Past  sadness  with  a  rarer  joy  endowers 

These  days  in  -which  our  pulses  higher  heat; 

Like  hlossoms  which  uplift,  the  sun  to  greet 
After  the  stress  of  sudden  chilling  showers. 

Fire  tempers  steel;  and  thus  the  test  of  pain 

Shall  make  souls  steadfast,  and  the  true  heart  strong 

And  hnng  tranquility  from  stormy  years; 
Life  a  hifter  lessons  are  not  learned  in  vain 
And  rightly  runs  the  hurden  of  the  song, 

"They  lightest  laugh  who  knew  the  touch  of  tears." 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  67 


In  Winter  Paths 

Tte  tumbled  drifts  like  fixed  and  frozen  seas 
Arc  billowed  up  around  us,  all  in  wlute. 
The  swirling  \vinds  on  leafless  branches  smite 

And  round  about  tke  trunks  of  naked  trees 

Flit  restlessly  tne  black-capped  ctickadees; 

Sky  tits  of  grey,  in  brief  and  silent  flight; 
Tbe  woods  are  blacker  tb.an  at  dead  of  nignt 

And  under  icy  shields  tne  waters  freeze. 

But  yonder  was  a  spray  wnere  on  a  time 
The  robin  sang;  in  tbat  lone  react  remote 

\Vild  violets  gattered,  tluer  ttan  tte  sea; 
Nor  stall  ttis  deartt  tanist  tte  water's  rtyme 
Tte  green  of  tte  grass,  tte  blue-bird's  April  note, 
AiVtile  side  by  side  you  wander  tere  witt  me. 


68  SONNETS    TO    A    WIFE 


Steadfastness 

will  not  dread  tlie  future  nor  the  past. 

There  is  enough  to  live  for  day  by  day, 

Time  and  to  spare  for  either  -work  or  play 
And  the  long  slumber  coming  at  the  last; 
God  and  Eternity  are  much  too  vast 

To  fret  us  while  we  linger  hy  the  way. 

Sometimes  we  shall  he  sad,   and  sometimes  gay, 
But  heart  with  heart,  and  hand  in  hand  stand  fast. 

Let  others  seek  the  solace  of  the  shrine 
Under  the  gilded  and  mscripted  dome 

That  shuts  from  sight  the  far  blue  heavens  above; 
For  us  the  essence  of  the  true  divine. 

The  human  joys  that  touch  and  sweeten  home — 
And  that  denied  the  angels — which  is  Love. 


SONNETSTOAWIFE  69 


Pictures 

There  nave  been  pictures  that  were  reckoned  fair 
In  ancient  times  by  cunning  painters  wrought, 
Ana  tar  across  the  tides  or  ocean  brought 

To  hang  at  last  like  jewels  old  and  rare 

In  stately  halls;  but  none  tnat  would  compare 
To  some  one  woman,  by  the  Graces  taught, 
Vv  ith  roses  at  her  bosom,  perfume-fraught 

And  motes  or  golden  sunlight  in  ner  hair. 

Time  picks  the  crumbling  canvas  into  shreds 
Till,  dust  at  length  it  sinks  in  the  abyss, 

And  with,  the  winds  in  errant  circle  blows; 
But  ere  Fate  comes  to  snip  tne  tightened  threads 
There  is  no  picture  which  is  like  to  tnis — 
Tne  one  fair  woman — at  ner  breast  a  rose. 


70  SONNETSTOAWIFE 


Shad* 


ows 


If  we  are  nauglit  but  sbadows,  as  tbey  say, 
Seen  briefly  as  a  sunset  wkile  we  pass, 
If  life  is  tinkling  cymbals — sounding  brass — 

And  love  a  dream  tbat  quickly  fades  away — 

Fate  may  not  rob  us;  we  bave  bad  our  day; 

Have  beard  tbe  music  and  bave  drained  our  glass; 
And  if  we  are  to  perisb  as  tbe  grass 

Deatb  cannot  quencbtbe  spark  wbicb  lit  our  clay. 

For  Love  beyond  all  else  is  vestal  flame 
Tbat  burns  forever,  constant  as  is  Time 

Steadfast  and  brigbt  as  is  tbe  Northern  star; 
And  wben,  like  mist,  we  vanisb  as  we  came, 
Maybap  our  passion  shall  imbue  tbis  rbyme 
^Witb  life  for  otbers,  sbadows  tbougb  we  are. 


Notes. 


Notes 

The  twentieth  sonnet  of  the  sequence  as  it  appeared  in  the  first 
edition  is  an  emendation  by  the  author.  As  the  sonnets  appeared 
serially  in  the  St.  Louis  Mirror,  the  twentieth  was  as  follows: 


At  tlie  Window 

A  measure  of  slow  musing,  and  a  dream 

Of  other  days  that  to  her  heart  has  sped; 
A  yard  below  where  grasses  thickly  spread 

Lie  out  like  velvet  in  the  sunlight's  gleam; 

Blue-dappled  skies  with  clouds  as  wan  as  cream. 
And  in  the  streets,  a  wandering,  noisy  thread 
Of  wheels  and  voices,  down  and  outward  led. 

That  ripples  past  the  window  in  a  stream. 

But  now  a  footstep  echoes  up  the  street 

And  drops  the  thimble  from  her  finger  there. 

The  quickened  pulses  of  the  day  swift  beat 
And  sunshine  nestles  in  her  tawny  hair; 

He  looks  above,  as  hoping  not  in  vain — 

Her  face  appears,  a  flower  at  the  pane. 


In  the  first,  1901,  edition  the  thirty-fifth  sonnet  was  as  follows: 


Selfishness 

I  want  no  child  to  take  one  jot  from  me 

Of  this,  your  love;  no  helpless  clinging  hands 
To  hold  their  place  as  strong  as  iron  bands. 

I'd  lock  your  heart  and  throw  away  the  key. 

As  now  you  are,  so  I  would  have  you  be 

Till  from  Life's  glass  should  fall  the  latest  sands; 
Till  on  the  hearth  the  ultimate  dull  brands 

Fade  out,  and  leave  us  to  Eternity. 

I  know  the  children's  power;  and  I  know 

Your  soul  would  flower  and  blossom  to  a  child; 

And  loving  you,  I  would  not  have  it  so 

Lest  I  of  my  sole  treasure  were  beguiled; 

To  learn  that  bifter  lesson,  late  in  life. 

How  far  a  mother  loves  beyond  a  wife. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  I 


